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Barack Obama has made a candid admission about the challenges in his marriage to Michelle Obama, revealing that he’s been working hard to repair the toll taken during his presidency.
Speaking at a conversation hosted by Hamilton College on Thursday, the former US President said, “I was in a deep deficit with my wife,” referring to the strain caused by his time in office. “So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things,” the 63-year-old added, as reported by the Daily Beast.
Obama has previously acknowledged the pressure that two consecutive terms in the White House, from 2009 to 2017, placed on his personal life. In an interview in May 2023, he shared, “Let me just say this: It sure helps to be out of the White House and to have a little more time with her.”
He also praised Michelle for being “forgiving” of his shortcomings.
Michelle, 61, hasn’t shied away from speaking honestly about their marriage either. In December 2022, she revealed that she “couldn’t stand” her husband for a full decade while their daughters, Malia (now 26) and Sasha (23), were still young, emphasising that she was not “being catty by saying this.”
“Marriage isn’t 50/50 — ever, ever,” ther former first lady added.
“There are times I’m 70, he’s 30. There are times he’s 60, [I’m] 40,” she explained. “But guess what? Ten years — we’ve been married 30 — I would take 10 bad years over 30. It’s just how you look at it.”
Earlier, in April 2023, Michelle said she choose to speak openly about their relationship “because marriage is hard, and a lot of young people quit on marriage over things that are just a part of the commitment.” She added that the compromises required “ain’t always fun.”
The couple, that got married in October 1992, have also faced public speculation about the state of their relationship. Rumours of a rift began swirling earlier this year after Barack appeared solo at several high-profile political events, including President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and even Donald Trump’s inauguration. At the time, a source close to the couple said Michelle was simply “checked out” of Washington life.
A former colleague told Page Six, “They don’t pretend that they have this Camelot relationship. They’re not trying to present that they’re this magical couple.”
As for online gossip, Michelle maintains her distance. “You cannot live through social media,” she said last month. “Don’t let that negative energy enter into your space. These are people who don’t know you. A lot of this stuff is made up, and it does not feed you.”
